BOURNEMOUTH AIRPORT review : 15 April 2009 : by S Omar

Customer Rating : 4/5

Car parking at Bournemouth International Airport has now gone up to fifty-two pounds a week, so it's lucky that locals in Ringwood are offering airport users the chance to park in their drives as part of the park at my house scheme. At the moment the Arrivals Hall is just a waiting room with no magazines and a vending machine and a single screen showing the arrivals, but it's all full of "rustic charm" as they say, and the really positive thing is that as soon as a plane has landed, the passengers without luggage are straight out and ready for home. All in all, I think it's a great airport, very low key and relaxed and friendly.

BOURNEMOUTH AIRPORT review : 17 March 2009 : by Susan Omar

Customer Rating : 3/5

Yes, there is now a link bus, it stops at the taxi rank outside the Arrivals at Bournemouth Airport and it goes to Bournemouth town centre every 30 minutes during the day. It calls itself a shuttle, but it isn't free. You're right - the airport isn't on the main route to anywhere, being in the village of Hurn as it is. I give people a lift to the airport when they park at my house in Ringwood because the taxis are about twenty pounds and there is not a bus!

BOURNEMOUTH AIRPORT review : 27 February 2009 : by A Turnell

Customer Rating : 3/5

I was fortunate enough to be given a lift back to the airport for my late flight last night, although next week that won't happen and I'll have to find my own way from the train station to the airport, as the bus service finishes at 19:00. Taxi fares are quoted at £14, which is more expensive than my flight! Can anyone with local knowledge suggest a means of public transport to get from station to airport? I've found a bus that takes me closish (Parley Cross), but this will still involve a 2.5 mile walk! It looks like transport links are an issue for the airport - perhaps there aren't enough evening flights to warrant a bus service? The airport itself is obviously undergoing a major redevelopment at the moment, and I'm sure it will be fantastic once completed.. I can imagine that the departure lounge can get crammed during busy times, but it was fine last night. I did witness a minor flare-up between despatch staff and crew from another Ryanair plane that had been sat on stand for a while, so maybe the comment about the inability of the airport to cope with more than two planes is true! Security staff were fine and facilities just about adequate. Can't imagine what it must be like in the summer season!

BOURNEMOUTH AIRPORT review : 23 February 2009 : by J Kelly

Customer Rating : 2/5

I park at Bournemouth every week and feel ripped off with the excessive car parking charges.£42 for 4 days.

BOURNEMOUTH AIRPORT review : 19 December 2008 : by L Addis

Customer Rating : 3/5

Passed through Bournemouth on way from Dublin to Edinburgh. I couldn't quite conceive how small it was, but I see construction is well on the way. However the longer I stayed there, the more fond I became. There is no-one really about, it is quiet. Security I see has been mentioned before, and the problem may have been rectified as I had two elderly men steer me through who seemed very friendly and chatty. The duty-free shop is truly hilarious, like a police seized goods room of shelves. Very happy to see (if old and tatty) comfy seats with no armrests. I took much pleasure in spreading out for a kip and to read my books. Glasgow flight went, Edinburgh one touched down a tad late. Friendly and personal Servisair ladies were refreshing and our plane departed with only 22 people on board.

BOURNEMOUTH AIRPORT review : 11 May 2008 : by M Medland

Customer Rating : 3/5

I flew out of Bournemouth with my family for a weeks holiday. Staff were polite and friendly. Upon returning, I was off the plane and back to the car with bags in under 15 minutes. Parking is expensive, facilities basic but adequate. I will use Bournemouth again, just for convenience and the time saved.

Bournemouth International Airport review by Neil Honeybone

19 March 2008   Customer Rating :

Bournemouth Airport really is a depressing place, a sad collection of wooden sheds by a runway. They have promised for years to rebuild the place, we still wait and wait. Meanwhile they charge as if they were a first rate airport: they are not. For the privilege of parking your car in an unsurfaced muddy field for 4 days: £40! For a coffee and a muffin £5! Bournemouth must be the only airport in the entire country that cannot cope with two planes arriving at once: 25 minutes queue through immigration and bags still not there.

Bournemouth International Airport review by C Economides

25 July 2007   Customer Rating : n/a

May I thank M Naylor for backing me. Unfortunately, such support is not forthcoming from the Management at Bournemouth. I wrote to them on 1 July, in response to a letter which basically misinterpreted the events (in favour of the security staff) and have not had the courtesy of a response.Thank you to those who have written on this site, - maybe despite the lack of a response "the management" will improve the behaviour of the G4 staff.

Bournemouth International Airport review by M Naylor

4 July 2007   Customer Rating :

Have to agree with what Christine says (3rd July). Have used the airport a few times, and found the security staff to be quite ignorant, but specifically to be downright rude - not to me personally, but customers queuing in front of me. This airport may have a convenient location, but you cannot get away from the fact it really is a bit of a dump. Whoever is responsible for the management should be sacked, as they clearly have either no interest or are prepared to exercise any proper control. BTW, the security staff at another regional I use (Exeter Airport) are almost as rude, and certainly harbouring some control-freak chip on their shoulder. Send all these imbecilic people to Seoul or Hong Kong airports - efficient and very polite, smiling staff.

Bournemouth International Airport review by Christine Economides

3 July 2007   Customer Rating :

I also was subjected to officious and "jobsworth" treatment at Bournemouth Airport by the Security staff. I am still in contact by letter with them, via their Managing Director, and would urge others who have been treated badly to do the same. The airport itself is convenient for those living in Dorset, and I have been lucky with flights as well. But I was taken to an "interview room" and my tiny sample skin care sachets were removed from the clear plastic bag, along with a few other items, in the name of Security! To top it, they were not even aware of their own rulings, in that I did not have up to 1 litre of liquids in 100ml containers, but just one 100ml container, and a few lipsticks. A G4 Security man (that is who they employ) threatened me with "you will not be flying at all if you carry on like this" - all I was doing was getting upset and agitated at being so treated, and saying that his behaviour was "officious" which I have since seen on this site reiterated. We cannot all be wrong. I will not give up. People in Security jobs like this should not be allowed to intimidate, and abuse power.

Bournemouth International Airport review by A Gunn

25 June 2007   Customer Rating :

Dreadful airport. A motley collection of buildings, with an overpriced, overcrowded cafe. Will not fly out of it again - will stick to Southampton in future (may be busy, but at least its clean and tidy).

Bournemouth International Airport review by Jim Fryer

25 April 2007   Customer Rating :

I wholly agree with Tim Mortimores' comments re the jobsworth security staff.. Insisting on passengers removing their shoes? What next, glasses in that pile, gold fillings in the other and suit cases over there? Bournemouth seems poignantly and all too horribly clear. Ridiculous, and do not try to point out to them how humiliated this makes you feel, and that such a demand is not made at other airports such as Prestwick. Brusque, officious and well .... lets stop just right there before I get really angry.

Bournemouth International Airport review by Tim Mortimore

21 November 2006   Customer Rating : n/a

We fly regularly from Bournemouth and find it quick and convenient. The only problem we find are the security staff who are basically job worths. On our latest trip my wife had a handbag and plastic see-though bag with a few cosmetics. The guy on the transit desk nearly blew a fuse about only being allowed 1 piece of hand baggage, until I pointed out I had nothing. I was also made to take my shoes off whilst others with similar shoes went straight through. On the other hand I can't fault the check in staff who are excellent.

Bournemouth International Airport review by Andrew Banyard

21 November 2006

If you live local to Bournemouth this airport is brilliant, and with the number of airlines and routes increasing quite frankly you can forget about your Gatwicks and Heathrows. OK I admit the buildings are not as modern as you find elsewhere - but who likes getting delayed at Gatwick for hours, something that rarely happens in Bournemouth. We fly with Palmair, which is a great little airline. They offer great service and are increasingly flying to more and more destinations.

Bournemouth International Airport review by Mike Nicol

24 July 2006

Bournemouth International (Hurn) Airport is not a Gatwick or Heathrow. It is however great for just parking checking in and getting on with your travelling. I regularly use BIA now and unless we were travelling long haul would look for our holiday destinations based on where we can get the flights from BIA to. Easy to use, quick and pleasant. Not great buildings and food but do you go to airports for food and building quality? Highly recommended airport.

Bournemouth International Airport review by Ron Ridout

18 July 2006

Having used Hurn Airport for the first time I was delighted with the facilities and reminded me of air travel as it used to be! Having been an international flyer since 1951 I found the whole experience of Hurn, both departing and returning, most convenient and as it is approximately the same distance from Gatwick and Luton from my home (Heathrow is nearer and best for long haul, admittedly) we will use Hurn whenever possible and are looking to use it for a flight to Guernsey soon. OK, the buildings do not come up to current expectations but at least we are using some of the Battle of Britain buildings, which give a sense of history to the place and to walk 100 yards to the car park and with almost no delay in waiting for baggage to be unloaded beats the 1 hour wait at Gatwick anytime. We arrived early for our flight after a decent run down the M3, not like the M25 and its delays, and once check-in was opened we were attended to quickly and pleasantly. The restaurant food could do with improving but to sit and watch your aircraft taxi in and park about 25 yards away is good too.

Bournemouth International Airport review by Jackie Norman

18 July 2006

I have recently starting using Bournemouth airport and find this year that the car park fee for one week is £38 which is very high. If using Gatwick or Heathrow there is the option of many hotel parking schemes. No public transport from Bournemouth so they can charge this high rate. There is no alternative but using a taxi which we shall be doing on our next trip. On our return 2 planes arrived at same time, we weren't informed which belt our luggage would be on, typical british way? Spent an hour waiting.

Bournemouth International Airport review by Cormac Murphy

6 February 2006

Unfortunately Bournmouth has been a victim of it's own success - what once made it a pleasant airport to use no longer applies. On recent flight to Innsbruck plane was a 737-800 ie 186 passangers to check in. This involves turning up 2 - 3 hours before flight and joining the kind of queue you normally only see at major airports. Only 2 check in operators for whole flight. Limited airside facilities - horrendous for long waits (the outgoing passengers waiting for my return flight had to endure a 7 hour wait - I can't imagine what this could have been like). On return journey, 15 minute wait in our seats after landing as apparently departing and arriving passengers must not mingle and another flight was boarding at the time. After arriving in baggage hall a further 35 minute wait for bags - the quick arrival of bags used to be a reason to use Bournemouth - not any more, it seems. In future I will stick to Southampton.

Bournemouth International Airport review by Günter Feuring

2 January 2006

I arrived at Bournemouth airport twice the last two month. Checking in and out went quite fast - its a small airport. But the buildings are poor, and the departure is a bit dirty. Have look in the smoking area, it is an outside stable.

Bournemouth International Airport review by Tony Riley

30 November 2005

I flew to Girona from Bournemouth and found airport staff to be friendly and accommodating. Everything ran smoothly and efficiently. On return my baggage was off the aircraft and on the carousel before I had cleared immigration. I landed at 17.15hrs. and was in my car, conveniently parked for 5 days about 100 yards from the terminal at a reasonable cost, by 17.35hrs.

Bournemouth International Airport review by Bob Mackinnon

24 October 2005

We have lived in the Bournemouth/Christchurch area since 1973 and have used Hurn as our preferred airport during that period. Mr Lomas has had the misfortune to hit the period of rapid growth and has possibly not seen the airport at it's best. The convenience of short checking times and very friendly service from all the staff that we have had contact with, have given BOH a very high rating in our opinion. Mr Lomas may not get the slick service and extensive facilities that other airports may offer, but for our needs Hurn is still best and appears to be getting better.

Bournemouth International Airport review by  Keith Partington

16 May 2005

I have flown on the Prestwick route too in the past and have to agree that some of the buildings at Bournemouth were quite old. Nevertheless, it was a light and airy place, unlike the corporate metal grey of Southampton from where I flew to Manchester a couple of months ago! I am flying from BOH to BFS on May 28th via Jet2. I will be interested to see if the situation that Brian Lomas describes has changed by then.

Bournemouth International Airport review by  Brian Lomas

1 March 2005

In response to Brian Lomas' email, I would like to thank him for taking the time to make his comments known, but would urge him to contact me at Bournemouth Airport in order to obtain a response regarding his experience. Bournemouth Airport is a friendly regional airport which this year is celebrating the arrival of two more low cost airlines and a host a new routes. We have made major changes to the airport both landside and airside and feel that the travel experience from Bournemouth is more hassle free than ever before. Ryanair, Europes number one low fares airline, has helped Bournemouth to grow and transition from a sleepy regional airport to one that is now on the brink of moving to major regional status. Although biased, we feel that Bournemouth offers the best facilities in the south of any regional airport considering our level of passengers. I would ask Mr. Lomas to please write to me and voice his concerns directly with the airport. Roger Parker, Bournemouth Airport Ltd, Christchurch, Dorset BH23 6SE.

Bournemouth International Airport review by  Brian Lomas

1 November 2004

We are frequent users of Ryanair from Prestwick we have had the misfortune to use Bournemouth Hurn Airport on a couple of occasions. Late in 2003 four of use needed to get to Girona for a meeting - there and back in a day. We flew out via Bournemouth and came back on the direct evening flight. The change at Bournemouth involved a nightmare 2 hours+ wait. We had thought of getting a taxi into Bournemouth for a quick break but when we were quoted £25 single for the short trip ("because there was heavy traffic on the nearby road") we decided to save money and stay at the group of WW2 huts called Bournemouth Airport, what a mistake. I had forgot my Catalan book so asked at the bookshop if they had any suitable book (Berlitz etc) - "no demand for that type of thing here" the woman said. Okay, then I'll have a newspaper - "they don't come until about 9" she said. She had obviously got out of the wrong side of life, so off I went into the cafe. There was nothing to eat apart from the usual crisps and a few miserable offerings, and the coffee served was lukewarm and weak - very weak. The cafe was extremely noisy, but not with passengers - it was airport staff having their morning meeting or gathering. Due to the increasing noise (and I really tried to be tolerant) I went for a walk - up and down the short feeder road outside. The others followed me because the noise in that small cafe was getting unbearable. When the boarding time eventually arrived, a group of about 6 pushy people were let through the gates first by the airport (not Ryanair) staff. When a woman with two young children asked why she hadn't been given priority, she was informed quite brusquely that the group were Bournemouth Airport staff going on holiday and got priority onto the plane. What rubbish! I wrote a polite letter of complaint to the airport manager, but needless to say never got a reply. The last time I used Bournemouth a couple of months ago, I found it unchanged. Can't speak for any noise because I spent the minimum time possible at the airport terminal. I refuse to fly with Ryanair on the Bournemouth route - simply because I find Hurn Airport a detestable place.